Devon's Discipline Read online

  “I know. It’s just been a long day. When you’re done, bring it to me and I’ll grade it tonight.”

  “Are you going to make me stand in the corner again?” Devon clicked her pen and wrote her name in the top corner. She didn’t want him to see how she really felt about it.

  “Focus on the test.”

  Devon nodded and read over the first question. She glanced down the paper and skimmed over the other questions. It covered the last two documentaries and she felt confident she would pass. At least her leg wasn’t bothering her anymore. She continued down to the end, all while thinking about the spanking he had planned. Why does he get me so worked up?

  “You’ve got five minutes.”

  “Yup, I’m just finishing the last question.” Devon flipped through the essay book to make sure everything was neat, then stood and brought the booklet back to him. “Thank you.” Her pulse quickened as he set the materials down and rose to his feet.

  Matthews rounded the desk and took hold of her waist. She swallowed hard as he pressed firmly against her back until she lay flush against the desk’s surface. Devon smelled the lemon furniture polish as her chin touched the wood and she knew that scent would drag her back to this moment from now on.

  “Take off your jeans.”

  Devon fumbled to undo the button and get out of her pants easily. She blushed as his hand touched the top of her thighs, but her embarrassment quickly faded as he landed several smacks. She screeched and wiggled her hips. It stung so badly when he focused on the backs of her thighs.

  “You gave me lip after showing up late to class. Why?” Matthews smacked the center of each of her bottom cheeks hard and fast several times, then waited for her to catch her breath and answer.

  “I wanted to listen to you after the first time you grabbed my chin, but I’m not very good at it.” Devon thought it glaringly obvious how she felt.

  “Really?”

  “I didn’t think anyone cared enough to notice my behavior.” She raised her head off her hands, but he gently pushed it back down.

  “What do you think now?” He laid two more rounds on her already burning bottom, then two more until she danced up on her heels.

  “I don’t know! Do you care?” Devon breathed heavily as he kneaded both cheeks with his hands, then let go. “Or is this just fun for you?”

  Matthews dug his fingers into her pony-tail so his hand lay against her scalp and yanked backwards until her ear reached his mouth. He targeted her sit spots then moved back to her cheeks while she groaned and grunted. “What do you think now?” he repeated as she fought to catch her breath.

  “I’m in more trouble,” Devon gasped as his hand rained a flurry of strikes against her butt. The angle was awkward, but she could not deny how wet he made her, even when the intensity of the spanking increased.

  “You’re right.” He wielded his palm like a paddle against her ass as he continued the lesson. Then after ten particularly hard smacks, he stopped. “Have you figured it out yet?”

  “Uh-huh…” Devon answered in between sobs as tears poured down her cheeks. “I… get it.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Matthews fixed her clothing and gently tugged her over to the couch. He leaned all the way back and settled her in his arms. “Will you stop pushing now?”

  “I’ll try.” Devon curled against his chest and nuzzled under his chin while her tears began slowing. She loved how perfectly she fit on his lap and she smiled despite the heat radiating off her bottom. He really did care, and she must have insulted him to ask if he cared in the first place.

  “I don’t want you to try. I want you to succeed. Or you will wind up this way more often than you wish.”

  “I don’t want to be spanked at all!” Devon looked up furiously. “Do you think I did this on purpose?”

  “No comment.” Matthews titled her chin up. “Get that frown off your pretty face.”

  “Fine,” Devon grumbled but relaxed again. “What did you—?”

  The words died on her lips when he kissed her deeply. She moved her hands behind his head and returned the kiss. He licked all the way down her neck towards her collarbone, then abruptly stopped. “I was wrong. You should go.”

  “I don’t want to.” Devon adjusted herself to straddle his thighs, her knees on either side of his. “Look! Now you’re trapped.”

  “This isn’t funny.” Matthews stood in one fluid motion and carried her to the door. He unlocked it, placed her on her feet, and ushered her through.

  “Did I do something—?”

  “No, you didn’t. Please listen and go.”

  “I’m sorry.” Devon wiped at her eyes as the tears poured over them.

  “You didn’t do anything.” He used the pads of his thumbs to dry her cheeks. “Get home safe.”

  “Yeah, okay.” She moved away from him and ran back toward the classroom, through the halls of offices. She hurried up the stairs and got the hell out of the building. She felt like such a fool! What an ass I made of myself.

  Devon punched a text to Lucy.

  Going to Barking Log. Fuck this semester!

  * * *

  A group of girls she had been friendly with last year were at the bar but didn’t seem interested in letting her hang with them. Their loss! Deeper down, the snub hurt her fragile self-worth and she made the decision to go home. Maybe some part of her professor’s lesson had stuck. When she glanced at the main entrance, there was a large group blocking it, so she decided to go out the back door. Devon stepped outside and someone grabbed her waist.

  “Look what I found!” A big jock had his arms around her.

  “Get off me!” she commanded.

  “Oh! She’s a feisty one. I wonder what she’d do if we put her down on her back?” Another guy approached and yanked on the clasp of her jeans. His fingers slipped but he attempted to yank them down anyway.

  “Hey, asshole, get off me!” She kicked at his hands. The one holding her waist grabbed her foot and snapped it back. As white hot pain tore through her body, the fight drained from her. At least it’s my other foot this time.

  “Be easy, bro.” Another voice sounded from behind her and to her horror, Josh, Lucy’s boyfriend, came into view. What is he doing here?

  The other guy in front of her finally got her panties down and his fingers brushed against her. She let out a scream, then saw the ground. Her head pounded against the pavement and caused her vision to swim. Something hard met her side over and over again while she cursed and cried.

  “Shut up, bitch!”

  Devon whimpered as one of them wrenched her arm upwards. She groaned at the sounds her body made but could no longer pull in enough air to scream again.

  “Hey! Don’t, Nick! We’re supposed to scare her!” Josh’s voice sounded near, but the pain ebbed away her reality.

  “Sometimes you have to cause a little pain to give a good scare.”

  “Please…” she tried.

  A strong force hit her in the ribs and she heard a nasty laugh as she cried out.

  “Little girl didn’t put up much of a fight.” It sounded like Nick, but everything in her vision blurred.

  “She’s just a girl.” It was Josh again.

  “Please?” She spit something out of her mouth. Is it blood? A tooth? “Matthews. I’m sorry.”

  “What the fuck did she say?” a strained voice questioned.

  “Does she belong to him?” Josh’s voice held a note of panic.

  Seconds later, one of them picked her up and set her in the back of a car. Her entire body bounced hard against the backseat as she had no way to brace herself.

  “Do you know what the retaliation for this could be? Do you know what our father will do?” Josh sounded the closest to her.

  Why did he let them hurt me, and what does his father have to do with it?

  “Shut up! Get her out of the car.” The voice sounded like the jerk who had groped her. What was his name? Devon could not think clearly enough to remember. She coughed hard and almost choked as something filled her mouth.

  “Nick, she’s spitting up blood. We have to go to the hospital,” Josh spoke again and at least he sounded concerned.

  “Shut up!” Nick growled from the front of the car.

  Devon tried to move her arms to gauge her injuries but kept losing track of her objective. The car lurched hard to a stop and Josh took her into his arms.

  “I’m sorry.” He opened the door, got out, and set her down on the ground. “I’m really sorry.” Seconds later, the car door slammed and she heard the car tires squeal and race away.

  Blood and tears trickled over her mouth as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. She willed her feet to propel herself onto her back but the gesture prompted a scream born of pain and frustration. Where am I? How am I going to stand up?

  In sheer desperation, she pushed herself up to her knees but she fell back to the ground hard. Another scream tore from her lips as her vision filled with white bursts of light. “No!”

  She choked back bile at the thought of dying at the hands of those assholes. Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her. “I’m sorry.”

  Devon took in a small breath as her chest hurt too much to get a full one. Matthews found me!

  “Don’t talk, I’ve got you,” he responded and lifted her into his arms. “You’ll be okay.”

  Devon felt a chill run through her, then heard a door close. Somehow they were suddenly in his house.

  “I have to get your clothes off.” He laid her down on the carpet.

  “I’ve wanted you to say that for weeks,” she whispered through the pain as he moved up to her chest.

  “Don’t joke,” he warned and ripped her shirt open and off.

  “I thought it’d be sex
y.” She felt him remove the rest of her clothes but could do little to help. Her limbs were numb and she felt colder than she’d ever been before.

  “I need you to listen to me and do exactly as I say.”

  “We know how that goes.” Devon coughed hard and wiped her mouth. Blood smeared across her hand and she suddenly freaked. “Am I going to die?”

  “Not tonight.” Matthews brought his hand up to his mouth and bit down into his wrist. “Drink until I tell you to stop.”

  “What?” The smell of pennies hit her nose moments before his wrist pressed against her lips. She suckled and tried not to think as the warm, thick substance slid down her throat. Her mind began to clear as the fuzziness lifted. Of course! The ninja-like reflexes and his eyes! He’s a vampire! Slowly the room came into focus and the pain dulled to a tolerable level.

  “Stop now.” He pulled away, his features drawn with worry.

  “Ugh.” Her stomach lurched suddenly and she made an awful sound like a cross between a groan and a gag.

  “Keep it down.” He put his hand over her mouth as a burning pain ripped through her body and forced her to bring her knees up to her chest. He wrapped his free arm around her and whispered against her ear. “Think about the sky on a perfect day when the sun is out and you can count hundreds of clouds. Think about the warmth on your face as you lie on your back and pick out shapes. Think about the coarse grass on your feet as you close your eyes and daydream.” He pressed his lips to the side of her head. “You can feel the breeze in your hair and smell the earth under you. Imagine it.”

  Her mind cleared as if a veil had lifted and she relaxed against him. He lowered her back to the floor and stood up.

  “You’re still bleeding,” she observed, more amazed then frightened.

  “It’s a small wound and will stop. Right now I’m concerned about you.” He grabbed a throw blanket from the couch and draped it over her.

  “I think I’ll be okay.” Devon licked her lips but immediately regretted it as the coppery taste returned.

  “I’ll be right back. Just stay here.”

  “I’m so dirty—”

  “I don’t care about the mud. Stay here, please.”

  Devon hugged the blanket to her and tried to make sense of the past few minutes. I had no idea he’s a vampire! What the hell does he think about all the things I said?

  “Let’s get you clean and then you can sleep,” he announced as he walked back into the room and scooped her up against his chest.

  “I’m so… but…” How could she let him see her this way? She tried to protest but could not make the right string of words come out. The hallway flew by her eyes as he carried her, so she gave in and closed her mouth. He would do whatever he wanted with or without her blessing.

  “The fog is gone, but your body has a long way to go.” Matthews turned into the bathroom and set her on the edge of the tub as the water filled. Once the level hit midway he slid her off the side and into the water slowly.

  “How did you find me?” She bit her lip as his hand came out of the water and several drops sprinkled across her breasts.

  “I heard your cry,” Matthews stated in a tone she could not place. He dipped a soft cloth in the bathwater and ran it over her shoulders. He worked his way down each arm without pause.

  “How can I thank you?” Devon gasped as his fingers brushed against her skin and she felt goose bumps rise as they trailed along her body.

  “You don’t need to.” He picked her right leg up gently and washed from her toes all the way up to the top of her thigh.

  Devon closed her eyes and opened them slowly as he hit the sweet spot where her leg met her hip. She longed to know what his thoughts were as he switched to the left leg and repeated his actions. Each stroke against her body awakened a deep thrill she believed dead. She felt vulnerable while naked under his touch, but she could not deny the spark he created.

  “Your body will heal a hundred times faster than normal, but you need rest.” Matthews moved behind her to wash her back.

  His fingers reached the end of her spine, then he rolled her onto one hip and dipped lower to caress each tender curve of her bottom. He helped her sit up again, then reached over her to wring out the cloth and draped it over the side of the tub.

  “Your chest has the most damage.” He soaped his hands and ran them over her collarbone and down into the valley between her breasts. His palms brushed across her nipples as he cleaned her there, and she could no longer stay quiet.

  Small moans slipped from her lips and she reached for his hand. He let her lace her fingers in between his.

  “Everything is heightened because of my blood. Every little touch or movement—even a thought.” He moved his hand away. “Come on, let’s get you out.”

  “I don’t want to,” Devon murmured.

  Matthews drained the water and pulled her to her feet. He bundled her up in a soft towel and stepped out into the hallway. “Just relax.” He brought her into the guest room, laid her down in the bed, pulled a tee-shirt over her head, and fixed her arm through the holes. Her legs were guided into a pair of well-worn sweats and he slid them up to her waist. “Get some sleep.”

  “Please don’t leave me alone tonight!” Devon sprang upright and grabbed his hands.

  “Don’t get yourself all worked up again.” He helped her get under the covers. “You’re safe here.”

  “I’m so scared. Please don’t go. I won’t be able to sleep.” Tears poured over her cheeks, and she trembled at the thought of being alone.

  “I’ll come back, but I have to get cleaned up first.” Matthews kissed the side of her head. “I won’t let anything happen.”

  “Hurry back,” she whispered as another round of tears slipped down her cheeks. He brushed them away with the back of his hand, then left the room. Devon wondered why he needed to get cleaned up but suddenly realized he had carried her inside and must be covered in dried blood. Did it excite him to see me like that? She thought back to his face when she asked him about dying. No, his first concern had been to save her.

  Devon tried to replay all the events in her head, but her whole body still ached and made concentrating difficult. She curled up on her side but felt restless. Why did Josh let them attack me? Did Lucy know about Matthews being a vampire?

  “You need to rest.” Matthews returned and sat next to her. “I’m not going anywhere tonight.”

  “Can you stay in here?” Devon rubbed at her eyes, exhausted from her ordeal. “Please?”

  “I’m still your teacher, so I really shouldn’t.” Matthews swallowed hard as she found his hand and tugged him towards the bed. “You’re not listening to a word I say.”

  “I bet it’s from the knock to my head,” she smiled as he climbed over her and looped his arms around her body protectively.

  “What’s my excuse then?” Matthews sighed as she snuggled closer.

  “I don’t know. I’m sleeping.” Devon relaxed for the first time in a long time. “Good-night.” Despite the night’s events, she fell asleep quickly, without hearing his reply.

  * * *

  Devon watched Matthews pace back and forth through the kitchen. He stalked like a tiger stuck inside a cage. What is he thinking?

  “Do you remember what they looked like?” He had asked the same question a dozen times.

  “Three big jocks, but I’m sure that describes half of the male population on campus.” It was ten in the morning and all she wanted to do was go back to sleep. She sighed as he stopped and pressed another glass of juice into her hand. She’d already had orange, apple, and cranberry.

  “Tell me the name of the bar.” He returned to pace in front of the breakfast nook.

  “I was at the…” Devon paused as he raised his head. What will he do if I tell him where I was? Will he search for those boys? She decided to take several small sips of the sour grapefruit juice, no doubt healthy in some way, and finished, “…I’m afraid to tell you.”

  “I could take the image out of your head and this conversation would be over.”

  “The Barking Log. You know, the one off Main Street? Josh Brinkham, his older brother Nick, and some other guy they always hang out with. Daniel, I think.” Devon blinked as he stopped mid-step. The look on his face could have melted wax off an unlit candle.